Contact: Peter Brown, ext 6256

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the reasons for the delay in progressing the proposed Best Value review of Development Control services in the Environment Grouping. Members are invited to note this information and agree to contribute views to the advance service improvement review of the development control functions relating to highways. A presentation on this service improvement review will follow the Committee meeting.

2. Information

2.1 Further to the Environment Grouping's Best Value reviews of Passenger Transport, Road Safety, Transport Network Improvements and Policy Development, the corporate Best Value programme scheduled that a review of the Development Control service be undertaken during 2002/03. To progress this an officer Steering Group was established in late 2001 to identify the review's scope, content and programme. In brief, the main areas of work identified at the time to be covered by this review included:

(i) determination of minerals and waste related planning applications;

(ii) determination of the County Council's planning applications for its own development;

(iii) referral from the district councils to the County Council for strategic advice on planning applications for major developments;

(iv) referral from the district councils to the County Council for specialist advice, such as ecology, archaeology, etc, on planning applications for all developments; and

(v) provision of development control advice on the highways and transport aspects of planning applications.

2.2 The initial deliberations of the Steering Group concluded that the potential for identifying significant customer focused service improvements within this scope would be relatively limited and may, in any case, be further constrained by new best practice guidance recently published by Central Government. Other implications outside our control may also arise from the Planning Green Paper. In view of this, the Steering Group was minded to recommend that the review be limited to a service review related to the business planning process. This will include examination of :

(i) current best practice as advised by the Audit Commission following Best Value inspections of a number of planning services;

(ii) advice from the Planning Officers' Society on service quality;

(iii) comparative performance with other planning authorities; and

(iv) preparation of action plans for incorporation in the relevant business plans for the service.

2.3 With recent Government guidance advising that future Best Value reviews be more strategic and cross-cutting, the Steering Group also identified related issues of corporate interest concerning land and premises, development and management. Accordingly, discussions have taken place with officers from other departments, notably Property, Business and Regulatory Services, to identify whether these topics should be embraced within or allied to the other proposed Best Value reviews of Estates and Management of Buildings scheduled for 2003/4. The possible implications of this for the corporate Best Value review programme will be considered at a forthcoming meeting of the Corporate Performance Steering Group and any recommendations will be presented for ratification to the Cabinet in due course.

Highways Development Control Issues

2.4 In considering the original proposed scope for the Environment Grouping's development control review it was clear that issues relating to highways and transport matters were a distinct topic stream that, whilst deserving consideration in the near future, were not of sufficient size to warrant a full Best Value review. Nevertheless, with the termination on 31 March 2002 of the formal highway agency arrangements with district councils for considering the transport aspects of planning applications, preparing legal agreements and undertaking land charge searches, some form of service review was urgently required.

2.5 Accordingly, a service review utilising Best Value principles commenced in late 2001. A Steering Group was established, chaired by an officer of the County Surveyor's Department, comprising engineering and planning representatives from New Forest District Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council. The Group also had links to the Hampshire Chief Engineers' Group and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chief Planning Officers' Group. The Group is also linked into a Bench Marking Group from other counties in the South of England.

2.6 Following initial scoping of the key topics for consideration, a stakeholder workshop, including representatives for the development industry, was held on 7 February 2002. This was attended by Councillors Glen, Price and Roberts as representatives of this Committee.

2.7 The Steering Group is now beginning to develop options for service improvements and wishes to share its preliminary ideas with Members before presenting a preferred set of options in the autumn. An informal presentation for Members on the preliminary ideas will therefore follow this meeting.

Recommendation

That Members note the actions made on the proposed Best Value Review of Development Control.

7243/PNB